New Penn State pick logged on On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine
Penn State is gearing up for a busy March and April on the recruiting trail. With 15 spring practices scheduled, the Nittany Lions are planning to host hundreds of prospects beginning March 11. We expect recruits on campus nearly every weekend up until the Blue-White Game, which is scheduled for April 15.
However, Penn State fans may not have to wait that long to see more additions within the Class of 2024. Earlier today, linebacker Kari Jackson tweeted that he’s planning an announcement for next Tuesday, Feb. 28. While Jackson hasn’t confirmed what the announcement is, we believe Penn State is in a strong position with the West Bloomfield, Mich., linebacker. When you also add in his recent visit at the end of January, I decided to log a pick for Penn State in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine Friday afternoon. With a confidence score of 70, the RPM now gives Penn State an 88.6 percent chance of landing Jackson’s commitment.
Following his visit last month, Jackson said he’s built a strong relationship with both defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and defensive recruiting coordinator Alan Zemaitis.
Deep Dive: Penn State linebacker target Kari Jackson
“Coach Diaz is a really cool guy,” said Jackson. “He knows a lot about football and understands the linebacker position well. He plays through his linebackers in his defense, which is a big thing for me. He’s been at all the different levels in football and has a lot of wisdom, a lot of knowledge, particularly at the linebacker position.
“[Zemaitis] has been giving me that insight on what it’s really like to play at Penn State, play at the highest level. He was a great Penn State player and he’s also a genuine guy. AZ is really down to earth. He’s been giving me a lot of advice on what it’s like to be part of their culture.”
A three-star prospect according to the On3 Consensus, Jackson is coming off an excellent junior season, totaling 103 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and three sacks for West Bloomfield. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound middle linebacker earned an offer from the Lions nearly two years ago. He’s visited Penn State three times total.
At the beginning of February, Jackson narrowed his list of schools down to seven. In addition to Penn State, he included Cincinnati, Maryland, Missouri, Stanford, UCF and Wisconsin. Overall, he’s earned 25 scholarship offers to this point.
